4 replies to this topic

[Tesla]

I'm mainly a Windows user, however I do have an Apple Mac and many Apple devices.

 

I have installed Linux (Ubuntu) on a spare machine a while back, to take a look and see what all the fuss was about. If I ever get around to building an Multi-Arcade Upright MAME Cabinet, I see some using Ubuntu or even Batocera (I get it … it’s free, lean, and has the potential to run on older hardware). 

 

With VPX now supporting BGFX (and some other initiatives) … I get the impression that a completely free/open-source Pinball environment (including the OS) is becoming more of a reality, and maybe even desirable.

 

This looks interesting (yeah, I would need a Front-End for my 3-Screen Cabinet).

https://www.vpforums...topic=56046&hl=

 

So, for this to even exists, I suppose there are versions of VPX, B2S-Server, and vPinMAME … that run natively on Linux Ubuntu.

Pretty sure there are full-featured (gaming capable) Linux drivers for popular Nvidia/AMD video-cards (and sound-cards), so no problem there.

AFAIK, Linux-Gaming is not particularly popular but it is possible (if you have something worth playing).

 

But what about my Pinscaped KL25z (for switches, leds, nudging, and DOF devices)?

I don’t see a Linux Config-Tool for it or Pinscape-Pico.

And if the work-around is to dual-boot back to Windows-11 to config-it … do switches, leds, nudging, and DOF devices ALL still work while playing the VPX tables on the cabinet in Linux?

 

I do also have concerns about things like SSF-7.1 audio-support under Linux (so I’ll include it here for completeness). But without Pinscape support, it’s mostly irrelevant as that seems like deal-breaker for me (and I would think other cabinet owners as well).

Edited by Tesla, 03 November 2025 - 07:59 PM.

[jsm174]

You'd probably want to jump over to our Discord channel for better discussion on this. 

 

VPX Standalone on Linux/Mac/iOS/Android has everything bundled in it. There is no need to install several different pieces of software.

 

For example, Batocera 42 comes with the latest version of VPX Standalone 10.8.0 and supports most of DOF.  It's a good playground, since you can boot off a USB key and test things out, without messing up your windows install. 

 

SSF 7.1 is not support with 10.8.0 as BASS has issues on linux.

 

With 10.8.1, this has been completely fixed and tested by many in the community. 

[Tesla]

Cool. That's some good preliminary info, so thanks for all that.

 

Well, I don't see how it can support DOF and not Pinscape-like hardware, so that is promising.

I'll load Batocera onto a high-speed-class flash-drive, plug into a USB-3.0/3.1 Port, and give it a try for myself. 

 

If I need to talk to them later, I'll have some more intelligent questions.

 

I will add that now that I have a pretty-good understanding of how all the VPX and Pinscape stuff works in Windows-11 (with Pinball-Y as my Front-End on my little cabinet) I'm really liking it . I like the Windows foundation, the cabinet as a peripheral, and VPX is the game and/or simulation on top. 

 

I don't know the scene that well, so not sure if VPX-Standalone is the way of the future, or just another access-point to expand the reach of VPX and pinball in general. I've read that it's hard to get younger people interested in pinball (at least here in the US) if they didn't grow-up with it or played the machines in arcades.

Edited by Tesla, Yesterday, 02:36 AM.

[jsm174]

> Well, I don't see how it can support DOF and not Pinscape-like hardware, so that is promising.

 

 

We've been working on this eco-system for past three years. - https://github.com/j...aster/README.md , https://www.jsm174.com/goonies/

 

 

Anyway, much of standalone specific code has been merged into 10.8.1 and everything going forward now keeps cross platform in mind. 

[Tesla]

> Well, I don't see how it can support DOF and not Pinscape-like hardware, so that is promising.

 

 

We've been working on this eco-system for past three years. - https://github.com/j...aster/README.md , https://www.jsm174.com/goonies/

 

 

Anyway, much of standalone specific code has been merged into 10.8.1 and everything going forward now keeps cross platform in mind. 

 

I see libDOF . Wow, you have been busy.

 

Good you were able to use MJR's vast contributions as his work always seemed solid to me. Bringing-in libPinmame seems like a milestone. So, talented developers sharing does work. This Linux-thing is like a whole other world over there (similar to Apple-Mac world).

 

Nice work on converting the old Demolition Man pinball-machine to a Virtual-Pinball Cabinet. Yeah, the Nvidia 10-series cards were good. I'm still running my GTX-1070's on my VPX-cabinet and home-theater's Kodi-box.

 

You have certainly peaked my interest in VPX-Standalone for Linux. I'll load-up Batocera and take a closer look soon.

Edited by Tesla, Yesterday, 06:26 PM.